April 1 comedy show in Rancho Bernardo is no joke

It’s no joke — a comedy show will be held in Rancho Bernardo on April Fool’s Day.

The inaugural event for “mature audiences” is a fundraiser benefiting Rancho Bernardo’s Spirit of the Fourth festivities. Spirit of the Fourth Co-President Myrna De La Peña said she is hoping it will raise at least $4,000.

Bob Golub (Courtesy photo)

Professional stand-up comedians Bob Golub, Mike Ivy and Benny Ricardo have been booked for the Saturday, April 1 event. It will begin with dinner, drinks, a silent auction and raffle at 5 p.m., followed by the two-hour comedy performance from 6 to 8 p.m. in the RB Swim & Tennis Club, 16955 Bernardo Oaks Drive.

Tickets are $25 per person, which includes dinner and one drink. The first 100 tickets sold will include a free raffle ticket. Tickets can be purchased in advance at Bob Worner Automobile Dealer, 17631 W. Bernardo Drive, Suite F; at the Ed Brown Center for Active Adults, 18402 W. Bernardo Drive in Rancho Bernardo Community Park; or via mail. For the latter, send a check — written to “Spirit of the Fourth” — to Box 28523, San Diego, CA 92198. For those buying by mail, include a return mailing address if different than the address on the check.

Mike Ivy (Courtesy photo)

De La Peña said tickets will only be available at the door if it is not sold out in advance.

She called the event a “bargain” compared to spending an evening at local comedy clubs since the $25 includes dinner and a two-hour show. The dinner will include salad and pasta from Souplantation, wine from Koi Zen Cellars and beer from The Barrel Room.

The three comedians are “national headliners” on the comedy circuit. De La Peña said she knows Ricardo and he recruited the other two comedians, who are friends of his.

Benny Ricardo (Courtesy photo)

Golub and Ricardo, a former professional football player, met while performing at the Garvin’s Comedy Club in Washington, D.C. and have toured across the country, performing at such venues as Harrah’s Las Vegas Improv, Caesar’s Tahoe, Carnegie Hall and The Apollo, in addition to appearances on “The Tonight Show,” Letterman, “Good Morning America” and in several movies. Ivy has been a headlining comedian on cruise ships, appeared in several national television commercials plus the “Sarah Silverman Show.”

As for the silent auction and raffle, some of the items available include a sailboat excursion for six, including food and drinks; Gulls tickets and a night stay at the Rancho Bernardo Inn. Raffle tickets are $1 each.